Crimping tool for forming peripheral grooves in cylindrical articles

ABSTRACT

A crimping tool includes a plurality of curved article forming members or blades pivotally supported at one end in two adjoining layers in an apertured housing to define a circular opening for axially receiving a cylindrical article, for example, a cap-type seal for sealing a communications cable. A rotatable member overlying the blades is provided with a plurality of cam follower rollers, each of which engages one side of the free end of each blade. An arm on the rotatable member is coupled to a movable piston rod disposed in a hydraulic cylinder supported on the housing and driven by an electrically activated hydraulic control system which may be selectively actuated through a pushbutton switch on a handle attached to the housing. The closure of the switch activates the cylinder, moving the arm, partially to rotate the rotatable member urging the rollers against the free ends of the blades inwardly to contract the circular opening to form a pair of adjoining internally-projecting ribs in the cap to form a hermetic seal between the inner surface of the cap and the contiguous outer surface of the cable sheath. The hydraulic pressure may be adjusted to provide grooves of a sufficient depth to seal caps on cables of various sizes.

United States Patent 1 Dryden et al.

[ Aug. 7, 1973 CRIMPING TOOL FOR FORMING PERIPHERAL GROOVES INCYLINDRICAL ARTICLES [75] Inventors: Kerin Lee Dryden, Lawrenceville;

Roger George Anthony Ebrey, Snellville, both of Ga.

[73] Assignee: Western Electric Company,

Incorporated, New York, N.Y.

22 Filed: Sept. 9, 1971 211 App]. No.: 178,922

[52] US. Cl. 72/402, 29/517 [51] Int. Cl B2ld 41/00 [58] Field of Search72/402, 407, 415;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,203,078 8/1965 'Ustin...-.29/517 Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-M. J.Keenan Attorney- W. M. Kain et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A crimping tool includes a plurality of curved articleforming members or blades pivotally supported at one end in twoadjoining layers in an apertured housing to define a circular openingfor axially receiving a cylindrical article, for example, a cap-typeseal for sealing a communications cable. A rotatable member overlyingthe blades is provided with a plurality of cam follower rollers, each ofwhich engages one side of the free end of each blade. An arm on therotatable member is coupled to a movable piston rod disposed in ahydraulic cylinder supported on the housing and driven by anelectrically activated hydraulic control system which may be selectivelyactuated through a pushbutton switch on a handle attached to thehousing. The closure of the switch activates the cylinder, moving thearm, partially to rotate the rotatable member urging the rollers againstthe free ends of the blades inwardly to contract the circular opening toform a pair of adjoining internally-projecting ribs in the cap to form ahermetic seal between the inner surface of the cap and the contiguousouter surface of the cable sheath. The hy draulic pressure may beadjusted to provide grooves of a sufficient depth to seal caps on cablesof various sizes.

9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTELAUE 1W 7 3,750,453

SHEET 1 OF 4 F/G F/G. 2

KL. D/PVDEN RG14. EBREV By QWKQ ATTORNEY SHEEI 2 0f 4 llll)! PATENIELAUG H915 SHEET 3 BF 4 PAIENIEDMIB 7 3.750.453

' saw u (if 4 RESERVOIR FIG /0 CRIMPING TOOL FOR FORMING PERIPHERALGROOVES IN CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates to crimping tools forforming annular grooves in cylindrical articles and, more particularly,to crimping tools for forming internally projecting annular ribs on theinner surfaces of deformable metal caps to bind the caps onto the endsof communications cables.

2. Description of the Prior Art When communications cable is packaged onsupply reels for subsequent shipment and installation, the ends of acable on a reel may be provided with cylindrical metal caps which arehermetically crimped or sealed onto the cable ends by forming animpervious joint between the inner surfaces of the caps and thecontiguous outer surface of the sheath of the cable to keep moisturefrom entering the cable. Additionally, a needle valve or the like may beformed on the cap to permit pressurizing gas to be introduced into thecable. The gas pressure in the packaged cable may be measuredperiodically to determine whether or not any pressure loss has occurred,thus indicating the presence of leaks in the cable sheath, through whichmoisture may enter the cable core.

Since the caps normally are sealed onto the cable ends while the cableis packaged for shipment on a reel, operator access to the inside end ofthe cable with a crimping device or tool is subject to certain physicallimitations which govern, among other things, the size of the crimpingdevice and its ability to be handled easily. Furthermore, the devicemust be provided with the capability of supplying sufficient crimpingforce to allow the cap to be crimped on the cable to a sufficient depthinto the cable sheath to insure the retention of the cap thereon duringthe handling of the cable, without constructing the cable core sotightly that the cable would be prevented from being pressurized.

In the past, the caps have been sealed onto the cables by placing thecaps over the cable ends and forcing annular grooves in the caps withrollers, hydraulically tightened steel strands looped around the caps,or torque-wrenched driven devices such as the crimping device describedin US. Pat. No. 3,135,146 to A. L. Loucks. While any one of theforegoing devices may be used advantageously to seal end caps on cables,the use of the first two of these devices may be relatively timeconsuming, depending upon the skill and experience of an operator toimplement the sealing of a cap, while the latter requires the operatorto change parts to seal different size caps.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an easily handled crimping toolfor sealing cylindrical articles, such as metal end caps, onto the endsof cables or the like by forming uniform grooves of a predetermineddepth in the caps to assure mechanically strong and impervious jointsbetween the caps and the cables, which may be relatively simple tooperate and which is capable of sealing caps of various sizes ontocorrespondingly various sizes of cables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved crimping tool for forming annular,circumferential grooves in cylindrical articles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved crimping tool for sealing cylindrical parts onto articles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved crimping tool for forming annular grooves in the caps ofcap-type end seals for sheathed cables.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a crimping toolfor forming uniform annular grooves of a predetermined depth in varioussizes of caps of cap-type end seals for correspondingly various sizes ofsheathed cables to form mechanically strong and impervious jointsbetween" the inner surfaces of the caps and the adjacent outer surfacesof the sheaths.

With these and other objects in view, a crimping tool for forming aperipheral groove in a cylindrical article, embodying certain principlesof the present invention, may include a housing for axially receivingthe article, a plurality of article forming members disposed in thehousing, means pivotally supporting each of the article forming membersat one end at circumferentially spaced points to define across-sectionally continuous opening aligned with the article receivingopening for axially receiving the cylindrical article therebetween, andmeans for imparting angular movement to said article forming members tocontract said opening to form a preipheral groove in an article receivedin the openmgs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and various features ofthe invention will be more readily understood from the followingdetailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a metal end cap for a sheathedcable;

FIG. 2 illustrates the end cap of FIG. 1 after it has been crimped;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the end cap of FIGS. 1 and 2 after ithas been sealed ontothe end of a sheathed cable;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a crimping tool embodying the principlesof the present invention for effecting the seal between the endcap andcable of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the crimping tool of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is asectional view of the operating mechanism for the crimping tool of FIGS.4 and 5 taken along the line 6-6 of FIGS;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the operating mechanism shownin FIG. 6, particularly illustrating an arrangement of novel cooperablearticle forming elements for forming an annular crimp or groove in acylindrical article;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the forming elements of FIG. ,7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the forming elements shown in FIG. 7illustrating the manner in which the forming elements cooperate to formacircumferential groove in a cylindrical article; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of an electricallyactivatedhydraulic control system for the crimping tool of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown agenerally cylindrical, metallic end sealing cap 20 (FIG. 1) which may becrimped by forming first and second closely spaced circumferentialgrooves 21 and 22 (FIG. 2) therein, to seal the cap 20 hermetically ontothe end of a sheathed cable 23 (FIG. 3). The grooves 21 and 22 appear onthe inside of the cap 20 as a pair of inwardly projecting annular ribs21' and 22' which form impervious joints between the outer sheath of thecable 23 and the cap 20.

A cap 20 is normally sealed on both ends of the cable 23 while it ispackaged on a supply reel (not shown) in order to keep moisture fromentering the cable core. Optionally, pressurized gas, for example,compressed air, from a suitable source thereof, may be forced into thecable core through an externally threaded needle valve 26 disposed in aflattened end 27 of the cap 20. The cable 23 may be pressurized to apredetermined value, for example p.s.i., which can be measuredperiodically to determine whether or not any loss in cable pressure hasoccurred, the latter being an indication that faults in the cable sheathare permitting the cable to leak. These faults, if present, subvert thehermetic sealing of the cable and may result in moisture entering thecable core.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a crimping tool, generally indicated at 28, forcrimping the cap 20 onto the cable 23. The tool 28 includes a housingcomprising a top plate 31, a bottom plate 32, aligned with the top plate31, and a cylindrical connecting plate 33, which enclose the grooveforming mechanism of the tool 28. A carrying handle 36 extends between apair of supports 37 and 38 having bifurcated legs 41-41 and 42-42fastened to the top plate 31 and top and bottom plates 31 and 32,respectively. An auxiliary handle 43 (FIG. 4 only), supported in aU-shaped bracket 44 may be fastened to the forward end of the top plate31 further to facilitate handling of the tool 28 by an operator in theperformance of the end sealing or crimping operation. An electricalsupply cord 47, having a conventional three-pronged plug 48 thereon,extends from the support 38.

The tool 28 is further provided with an annular article-receivingopening designated generally at 49 (FIG. 5) into which the cap 20 may bepositioned axially after having been placed over a cable 23, forsubsequent sealing onto the end of the cable 23. The connecting plate 33is formed with a stepped slot 51, protruding from which is an arm 52formed on a rotatable member 53 (FIG. 6), having a hub portion 56disposed in the opening 49 and rotatably supported in suitable bearings57-57 mounted on a support member 58 secured to the top plate 31 bysuitable fasteners, for example, by a plurality of bolts 61-61. A yoke62 is pivotally coupled to the arm 52 by a pivot pin 63. The yoke 62 isfastened to a reciprocating piston rod 66 disposed in a hydrauliccylinder 67 secured to the housing of the tool 28 between the top andbottom plates 31 and 32. The rod 66 may be actuated to move the arm 52,partially to rotate the rotatable member 53.

A snap ring 68, disposed in a groove 71 formed in the hub 56, preventsaxial movement of the rotatable mem' ber 53 relative to the supportmember 58 and the tool housing. A plurality of camming rollers 72-72 arerotatably disposed in a plurality of apertures 73-73 formed in therotatable member 53, alternative ones of which are formed in a pluralityof radially extending,

circumferentially spaced recesses or slots 74-74 formed in the rotatablemember 53 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, two adjacent layers of curved article-formingmembers or blades 76-76, are arranged in upper and lower adjoining setsor groups of three blades 76a-76a and 76b-76b, respectively, to definetwo cross-sectionally continuous aligned circular openings 77 and 78,respectively, therebetween. As seen from FIG. 8, each blade 76 includesa curved section 81 and a recurved section 82. The curved section 81 ofeach blade 76 has an aperture 83 formed at an end thereof and includes araised or stepped portion 86 extending therefrom and over the recurvedsection 82 over a cut-out portion or slot 87 on the underside of eachblade 76, spanning portions of both sections 81 and 82. A concave side88 on each curved section 81 of a blade 76 comprises an article formingsurface or edge of each blade 76, the widest portion thereof occurringbetween the step 86 and the end of the slot 87 in the curved section 81.

Each of the blades 76b-76b of the lower set thereof shown in FIGS. 6 and7 is pivotally supported at one end on the bottom plate 32 with eachcorresponding aperture 83b disposed over individual ones of a pluralityof circumferentially-spaced pins 91-91, each formed with a shoulder 92and press-fitted into apertures 93-93 formed in the bottom plate 32around aperture 94 formed therein, with the shoulders 92-92 flush withthe top of plate 32. Similarly, each of the blades 76a-76a of the upperset thereof shpwn in FIGS. 6 and 7 is pivotally supported at one endslightly above the bottom plate 32 with each corresponding aperture 83adisposed over individual ones of a second plurality ofcircumferentially-spaced pins 96-96, each formed with a boss orprojection and press-fitted into an aperture 98 formed in the plate 32with the projections 97-97 spaced from the top of plate 32. Thus, theblades 76-76 are pivotally supported in two adjacent layers defining apair of aligned, axially-spaced crosssectionally continuous circularopenings 77 and 78, both of which are coaxial and aligned with thearticle receiving opening 49.

Referring to FIG. 9, the arrangement of a set of blades 76-76 and themanner in which they operate to form a groove in a cap 20 to seal ithermetically onto a cable 23 is clearly illustrated. Each blade 76 isassociated with one of the camming rollers 72-72 of the rotatable member53,'with a camming roller 72 lying behind the recurved section 82 of ablade 76 at the free end thereof. The rollers 72-72 disposed in theslots 74-74 formed in the rotatable member 53 are in alignment with theupper set of blades 76a-76a, while the remaining rollers 72-72, notdisposed in the slots 74-74, are aligned with the lower set of blades76b-76b. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced dowels 102-102 (FIGS. 7and 9), depending from the press-fitted into the underside of therotatable member 53 are each disposed adjacent to the recurved section82 of each blade 76 on the opposite side thereof from each cammingroller 72.

The piston rod 66 (FIGS. 4 and 5) may be moved out of the cylinder 67 inresponse to hydraulic pressure therein to move the arm 52, partiallyrotating the rotatable member 53 counterclockwise in FIGS. 4 to 9, withrespect to the tool housing defined by the plates 31, 32 and 33. Thepartial rotation of rotatable member 53 causes each cam roller 72 to beurged against the refree end of each blade 76 (FIG. 9), pivoting eachblade inwardly such that the opening defined between each set of bladesis contracted in a manner similar to the contraction of the iris of acamera. As an example, if FIG. 9 represents the top set of blades76a-76a, each blade 76 will be urged by a cam roller 72 to pivotcounterclockwise about its associated projection 97 toward the centralpart of the opening 77, as shown by the phantom representation of theblades 76a-76a to contract the size of the opening 77. It can be seenfrom FIG. 9 that the purpose of the step 86 and the slot 87 formed ineach blade 76 is to prevent interference between the overlying adjacentblades 76-76 in each set when they are pivoted by the cam rollers 72-72.If a deformable cylindrical article such as the metal end cap 20, shownin phantom lines in FIG. 9, is received axially within the opening 77, acircumferential groove 21 (FIG. 2) will be formed therein by the threecooperating blades 76a-76a in the upper layer thereof.

It can be seen that the groove 21 thus formed, while continuous aroundthe outer surface of the cap 20, will not be of a uniform depth sincethe contracted opening 77 will not be perfectly circular, as it is whenit is uncontracted. Rather, the opening 77, when contracted, assumes aspherical triangular shape, with the apexes of the angles thereof,indicated at the intersecting points 103-103 of adjacent blades 76-76,representing three points of minimum groove depth around the surface ofthe cap 20. 4

To insure that the outer surface of the cap is crimped uniformly, theadjoining lower set of blades 76b-76b, defining the circular opening 78,is angularly offset from the upper set of blades 76a-76a byapproximately 60 about an axis through the center of the alignedopenings 77 and 78 (FIG. 7). Since the points of intersection 103-103 ofthe blades 76-76 occur at l20 intervals about an axis through the centerof the openings 77 and 78, an angular offset of 60 between the adjoiningblade layers will insure a uniform groove depth around the cap 20, thecontracted openings 77 and 78, when superimposed upon one another,forming a circle, with the adjacently formed groove 21 and 22 (FIG. 2)having maximum and minimum depths occurring in staggered relationshiptherearound. To insure a,

hermetic seal between the cap 20 and the cable 23, the tool 28 may bedisplaced 60 in its principal plane relative to the cap 20 to insuregrooves 21 and 22 of uniform depth around the cap 20.

After the crimping operation is completed the piston rod 66 may beretracted into the cylinder 67, returning the arm 52 to its originalposition, partially rotating the rotatable member 53 clockwise, urgingthe dowels 102-102 against the blades 76-76 to return the blades 76-76to their initial positions.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an electrically activated hydraulic controlsystem generally indicated at 106, includes a reservoir 107, containinghydraulic fluid at atmosphei'ic pressure, connected to one side of amotordriven pump 108 through a supply line 111. The other sideof pump108 is connected to one side of a manually-adjustable,pressure-regulating valve 112 through a pressure-indicating gauge 113 bytwo fluid lines 116 and 117. The valve 112 is connected to the reservoir107 by a return line 118. A pressure line 121 is connected between theline 117 and the cylinder 67 on the tool 28 through a quick-disconnectfluid coupler 122.

The coupler 122 is of the type which may be disconnected easily andquickly by an operator simultaneously to seal off the line 121 anddisconnect it from the cylinder 67. The pump 108 may be driven by asuitable electric motor 126 coupled thereto through a suitable couplingindicated by the dashed line 127. One side of motor 128 is connected toa receptacle 131, which may be mounted on a housing 132, through a line133. The other side of motor 126 may be connected by a line 135 to oneof a pair of terminals 136-136 which may be connected to a suitablesource of electrical energy, for example, a V. 60 hz supply. The otherterminal 136 may be connected to the receptacle 131 through a line 138.

The cord 47 includes a pair of lines 141-141 which are seriallyconnectable through a normally-open pushbutton switch 142, positioned inand accessable from without the support 37 (FIG. 4) at the forward endof the handle 36 on the tool 28. The lines 141-141 may be connected tothe lines 133 and 138 by inserting the plug 48 into the receptacle 131.A pair of ground lines 146 and 147 may be provided for connecting thetool housing to earth ground, through the plug 48 and the receptacle131, to-protect an operator from the hazard of shock during operation ofthe tool 28.

The piston rod 66 is normally retracted into the-cylinder 67 by theaction of a compression spring 151 disposed over the rod 66 within thecylinder 67 and acting against a piston 152 connected to the rod 66.

The fluid pressure in the system 106 may be adjustably selected bydisconnecting the coupler 122 to seal off the system and then closingthe switch 142. Closure of the switch 142 energizes the motor 126through the lines 135, 133, 141-141, and 138 to drive the pump 108 topump fluid from the reservoir 107 through the serial arrangement of thepump 108, gauge 113, valve 112 and return line 118 to the reservoir 107.The valve 112 may be adjusted until the desired fluid pressure is readon the pressure gauge 113. This will insure that, regardless of thediameter of the cap 20 and the cable 23, grooves of a sufficient depthto form a hermetic seal will be formed therebetween. For example, if thecap 20 of FIG. 1 is approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, afluid-pressure of 3500 p.s.i. may form grooves 21 and 22 (FIG. 2) to amaximum depth of one-eighth of an inch therein. As a further example, ifthe cap 20 has a diameter of approximately 2.25 inches, a fluid pressureof 5000 p.s.i. may be utilized to form grooves threesixteenths of aninch deep therein. These groove depths have been experimentally found toprovide a heremtic seal between a. cap 20 and a cable 23 of the sizesset forth.

In operation, the tool 20 may be held by an operator grasping the handle36 in one hand with the thumb of the hand proximate to the pushbuttonswitch 142. The cap 20 may be placed over the end of the cable 23 andinserted axially in the opening 49 (FIG. 5) or the opening 49 may beplaced over the cap 20 on the cable end. Upon closure of the pushbuttonswitch 142 by the operator, the motor 126 is energized to drive the pump108 supplying hydraulic fluid, which has been adjusted to apredetermined pressure, through the line 121 and the coupler 122 intothe cylinder67 forcing thepiston 152 against the action of spring l51tomove the rod 66 out of the cylinder 67, moving the arm 52counterclockwise (FIGS. 4, 5 and 7') to rotate the rotatable member 53urging the camming rollers 72-72 against the recurved sections 82-82 onthe free ends of the blades 76-76 (FIG. 7) to pivot the latter andcontract the openings 77 and 78 to force the article forming surfaces88-88 of the blades 76-76 into the cap to form inwardly projectingannular ribs 21' and 22' on the inside surface thereof, opposite thegrooves 21 and 22, to compress the outer sheath of the cable 23 and forma hermetic seal between the cap 20 and the cable 23.

While the crimping tool has been specifically described for sealingmetal end caps on cables, it is obvious that the tool may be used tosecure terminals, sleeves, bushings, ferrules, or the like, ontoinsulated wires, or for securing any deformable cylindrical article ontoanother article without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A crimping tool for forming a peripheral groove in a cylindricalarticle, which comprises:

a housing having an article-receiving opening for receiving acylindrical article axially therein;

a plurality of article-forming members disposed in said housing, each ofsaid article-forming members having a curved aritcle-forming surface;

means pivotally supporting each of said articleforming members at oneend at circumferentiallyspaced points with said forming surfacesdefining a closed circular opening therebetween aligned with saidarticle-receiving opening for axially receiving the article therein; and

means for imparting pivotal movement to said article-forming members tocontract said circular opening to form a peripheral groove in an articlereceived closed in said openings.

2. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pivotalmovement imparting means includes:

an annular member mounted for rotational movement with respect to saidhousing in coaxial relationship to said article-receiving opening;

a plurality of circumferentially-spaced camming members supported onsaid rotatable member, each of which is adjacent to and aligned with theunsupported end of each of said article-forming members behind thearticle-forming surface thereof; and

means for selectively imparting rotational movement to said rotatablemember to urge said camming members against the unsupported ends of saidarticle-forming members to impart pivotal movement thereto.

3. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidarticle-forming members comprises:

a sicklelike blade including a curved section, having a concavearticle-forming surface, and a recurved section, both said sectionshaving a common principal plane;

a step formed on said curved section and extending over said recurvedsection on one side of said principal plane; and

a slot formed in said blade on the opposite of said principal plane fromsaid step between the end of said step on said curved section and theend of said recurved section.

4. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 3, wherein saidarticle-forming members are pivotally supported in overlyingrelationship with the slot formed in each member superimposed over theunstepped portion of the curved section of an adjacent member, theprincipal planes of each member being coplananto permit said members topivot in a common principal plane.

5. A crimping tool, asset forth in claim 1, and includin z 1 secondplurality of article forming members, numerically equal to and identicalwith said first plurality thereof disposed in said housing;

means pivotally supporting each of said second plurality ofarticle-forming members at one end at circumferentially spaced points inpositions axially rotated through an angle substantially equal to halfthe angular distance between the circumferentially-spaced supported endsthereof with respect to said first plurality of article forming members,with the forming surfaces thereof defining a second circular openingaligned with said article receiving opening and adjoining said firstcircular opening; and

second pivotal movement imparting means operable for imparting pivotalmovement to said second plurality of article-forming members to contractsaid second circular opening to form a second peripheral groove in anarticle received in said openings, whereby the contracted first andsecond openings defined by the article forming surfaces of the articleforming members, when superimposed, define a circle.

6. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of saidarticle-forming members comprises:

a sicklelike blade including a curved section, having a concavearticle-forming surface, and a r curved section, both said sectionshaving a comm n principal plane;

a step formed on said curved section and extending over said recurvedsection on one side of said principal plane; and

a slot formed in said blade on the opposite side of said principal planefrom said step, between the end of said step on said curved section andtheend of said recurved section.

7. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 6, wherein both said first andsecond plurality of article-forming members are each supported with saidindividual members thereof in overlying relationship,- with the slotformed in each member superimposed over the unstepped portion fo thecurved section of an adjacent member, the principal planes of themembers in each plurality thereof being coplanar to permit the membersof each plurality thereof to pivot in a common principal plane.

8. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means forselectively imparting rotational movement to said rotatable memberincludes:

an arm formed on said rotatable member;

a cylinder supported on said housing;

a piston rod partially disposed in said cylinder for rectilinearmovement;

means pivotally coupling said piston rod to said arm;

means for selectively forcing pressurized fluid into said cylinder toimpart movement to said piston rod partially to rotate said rotatablemember; and

means for selectively adjusting the pressure of the pressurized fluidfor selectively controlling the movement of said piston rod whereby agroove of a predetermined depth any be formed in various sizes ofarticles received in said openings.

9. A crimping tool for forming a pair of adjoining peripheral grooves ina cylindrical article, which comprises:

a housing having a cylindrical opening therethrough for axiallyreceiving the article;

a first plurality of arcuate forming elements, each having a concavearticle-forming surface;

means for pivotally supporting first ends of each of said firstplurality of forming elements in a common principal plane atcircumferentially-spaced points around said opening to define a firstcircular opening between the forming surfaces of said first plurality offorming elements;

a second plurality of arcuate forming elements identical to the firstplurality thereof;

means for pivotally supporting first ends of each of said secondplurality of forming elements in a com mon principal plane atcircumferentially-spaced points around said opening to define a secondcircular opening between the forming surfaces of said second pluralityof forming elements, said principal plane of said second plurality offorming elements being parallel with the adjacent to said principalplane of said first plurality of forming elements and axially displaced,with respect thereto, through an angle substantially equivalent to halfthe angular distance between said circumferentially-spaced first ends;

a member rotatably supported within said articlereceiving openingandhaving an aperture coaxially aligned therewith;

a plurality of circumferentially-spaced camming members supported onsaid rotatable member, each of which is associated with an unsupportedend of each of said first and second pluralities of article-formingelements; and

means for imparting rotational movement to said rodepth in an annularpath around the article.

t 4' 5' I t

1. A crimping tool for forming a peripheral groove in a cylindricalarticle, which comprises: a housing having an article-receiving openingfor receiving a cylindrical article axially therein; a plurality ofarticle-forming members disposed in said housing, each of saidarticle-forming members having a curved aritcleforming surface; meanspivotally supporting each of said article-forming members at one end atcircumferentially-spaced points with said forming surfaces defining aclosed circular opening tHerebetween aligned with said article-receivingopening for axially receiving the article therein; and means forimparting pivotal movement to said article-forming members to contractsaid circular opening to form a peripheral groove in an article receivedclosed in said openings.
 2. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 1,wherein said pivotal movement imparting means includes: an annularmember mounted for rotational movement with respect to said housing incoaxial relationship to said article-receiving opening; a plurality ofcircumferentially-spaced camming members supported on said rotatablemember, each of which is adjacent to and aligned with the unsupportedend of each of said article-forming members behind the article-formingsurface thereof; and means for selectively imparting rotational movementto said rotatable member to urge said camming members against theunsupported ends of said article-forming members to impart pivotalmovement thereto.
 3. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 1, whereineach of said article-forming members comprises: a sicklelike bladeincluding a curved section, having a concave article-forming surface,and a recurved section, both said sections having a common principalplane; a step formed on said curved section and extending over saidrecurved section on one side of said principal plane; and a slot formedin said blade on the opposite of said principal plane from said stepbetween the end of said step on said curved section and the end of saidrecurved section.
 4. A crimping tool, as set forth in claim 3, whereinsaid article-forming members are pivotally supported in overlyingrelationship with the slot formed in each member superimposed over theunstepped portion of the curved section of an adjacent member, theprincipal planes of each member being coplanar to permit said members topivot in a common principal plane.
 5. A crimping tool, as set forth inclaim 1, and including: a second plurality of article forming members,numerically equal to and identical with said first plurality thereofdisposed in said housing; means pivotally supporting each of said secondplurality of article-forming members at one end at circumferentiallyspaced points in positions axially rotated through an anglesubstantially equal to half the angular distance between thecircumferentially-spaced supported ends thereof with respect to saidfirst plurality of article forming members, with the forming surfacesthereof defining a second circular opening aligned with said articlereceiving opening and adjoining said first circular opening; and secondpivotal movement imparting means operable for imparting pivotal movementto said second plurality of article-forming members to contract saidsecond circular opening to form a second peripheral groove in an articlereceived in said openings, whereby the contracted first and secondopenings defined by the article forming surfaces of the article formingmembers, when superimposed, define a circle.
 6. A crimping tool, as setforth in claim 1, wherein each of said article-forming memberscomprises: a sicklelike blade including a curved section, having aconcave article-forming surface, and a recurved section, both saidsections having a common principal plane; a step formed on said curvedsection and extending over said recurved section on one side of saidprincipal plane; and a slot formed in said blade on the opposite side ofsaid principal plane from said step, between the end of said step onsaid curved section and the end of said recurved section.
 7. A crimpingtool, as set forth in claim 6, wherein both said first and secondplurality of article-forming members are each supported with saidindividual members thereof in overlying relationship, with the slotformed in each member superimposed over the unstepped portion fo thecurved section of an adjacent member, the principal planes of themembers in each plurality thereof being coPlanar to permit the membersof each plurality thereof to pivot in a common principal plane.
 8. Acrimping tool, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said means forselectively imparting rotational movement to said rotatable memberincludes: an arm formed on said rotatable member; a cylinder supportedon said housing; a piston rod partially disposed in said cylinder forrectilinear movement; means pivotally coupling said piston rod to saidarm; means for selectively forcing pressurized fluid into said cylinderto impart movement to said piston rod partially to rotate said rotatablemember; and means for selectively adjusting the pressure of thepressurized fluid for selectively controlling the movement of saidpiston rod whereby a groove of a predetermined depth may be formed invarious sizes of articles received in said openings.
 9. A crimping toolfor forming a pair of adjoining peripheral grooves in a cylindricalarticle, which comprises: a housing having a cylindrical openingtherethrough for axially receiving the article; a first plurality ofarcuate forming elements, each having a concave article-forming surface;means for pivotally supporting first ends of each of said firstplurality of forming elements in a common principal plane atcircumferentially-spaced points around said opening to define a firstcircular opening between the forming surfaces of said first plurality offorming elements; a second plurality of arcuate forming elementsidentical to the first plurality thereof; means for pivotally supportingfirst ends of each of said second plurality of forming elements in acommon principal plane at circumferentially-spaced points around saidopening to define a second circular opening between the forming surfacesof said second plurality of forming elements, said principal plane ofsaid second plurality of forming elements being parallel with theadjacent to said principal plane of said first plurality of formingelements and axially displaced, with respect thereto, through an anglesubstantially equivalent to half the angular distance between saidcircumferentially spaced first ends; a member rotatably supported withinsaid article-receiving opening and having an aperture coaxially alignedtherewith; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced camming memberssupported on said rotatable member, each of which is associated with anunsupported end of each of said first and second pluralities ofarticle-forming elements; and means for imparting rotational movement tosaid rotatable member to cause said camming members to impart pivotalmovement to said forming elements, simultaneously to deform said firstand second circular openings into substantially reducedspherical-triangular openings to form a pair of adjacent peripheralgrooves in an article received in said article-receiving opening, saidgrooves having staggered arcuate overlapping segments of uniform depthin an annular path around the article.